The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Monday evening that it was pausing all in-person team activities Monday due to COVID-19 test results within the program. The decision came barely 24 hours after the Hawkeyes defeated Ohio State and Purdue in a tri-meet contested in West Lafayette.
Iowa defeated Ohio State 33-14, and Purdue 31-18. The Hawkeyes are the top-ranked team in the country by every ranking, and considered the prohibitive favorite to win the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March.
Head Coach Tom Brands tested positive for the virus last week and did not travel with the team to Purdue. The team held out 157-pounder Kaleb Young due to COVID protocols; 165-pounder Alex Marinelli was already sidelined due to COVID and missed the Illinois dual the previous week.
The team also announced that Iowa’s dual at Penn State scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12, has been postponed "out of an abundance of caution surrounding the health and safety of the participants," and said that the two schools will work with the Big Ten office to identify rescheduling options.
Ohio State is scheduled to face Michigan this Friday in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are just coming out of their own suspension of athletics activities, but appear to be ready to roll according to the team's Twitter profile.
And were back. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/pBwdrIX8RZ
— Michigan Wrestling (@umichwrestling) February 9, 2021
